Method for accelerated chemical and/or biological remediation and method of using an apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a method of accelerated remediation or bioremediation of contaminated material using an apparatus comprising means for generating a treated contaminated material entraining air stream at a velocity sufficient for entraining the contaminated material therein. The contaminated material is entrained in the air stream and is then microenfractionated using the apparatus to form a microenfractionated contaminated material. Finally, the microenfractionated contaminated material is treated with at least one chemical amendment and/or one biological amendment by discharging the chemical amendment and/or one biological amendment from the apparatus thereby facilitating the accelerated remediation or bioremediation. The chemical amendment can comprise either a chemical oxidizing agent or a chelating agent.

RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 08/685,116,filed Jul. 23, 1996, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S.Ser. No. 08/223,523, filed Apr. 5, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,888,which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 08/043,666,filed Apr. 6, 1993 now abandoned, which is a divisional application ofU.S. Ser. No. 07/918,528, filed Jul. 21, 1992 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for the acceleratedremediation or bioremediation of contaminated material and to a methodof using an apparatus therefor, and more particularly to the acceleratedoxidative remediation or bioremediation of contaminated material treatedwith chemical amendments. Remediation or bioremediation typicallyinvolves the degradation of contaminated material using chemicalamendments.

Bioremediation in general involves the degradation of contaminatedmaterial, typically by the action of contaminate degrading aerobicbacteria. When practiced on a small scale, it is relatively easy tomaintain the aerobic conditions required by the bacteria; it is muchmore difficult to do on a larger scale. Failure to maintain aerobicconditions throughout the contaminate material results in anaerobicdecay of the material, which is much less efficient and much more timeconsuming than aerobic decomposition. This provides strong incentive tomaintain aerobic reaction conditions at all times.

The biological degradation of hydrocarbons can be conducted employingspecialized bacteria that utilizes hydrocarbons as their sole metaboliccarbon source or as a co-metabolite. The bacteria produce enzymes whichcatalytically crack the covalent carbon-hydrogen bonds of hydrocarbonsso that the smaller resulting molecules may pass through the cell wallof the bacterial organism for nutrient. In some instances, the bacteriamay produce enzymes which crack a carbon bond on an alternate carbonsource such as a carbohydrate. This same enzyme may also crack thehydrocarbon. This is called co-metabolism.

In addition to a carbon source, most living organisms require a balanceof other nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, various minerals inmicro quantities, etc. to efficiently metabolize and reproduce. Anyspecific nutrient that is deficient in a given biological system willlimit the efficiency of that system. This is akin to the "basic 4 foodgroups" idea of human nutrition which includes protein as a nitrogensource, carbohydrate as a carbon source, dairy as a fat or fatty acidsource plus phosphorus and a large number of vegetables as a vitamin andmineral source. Although bacterial requirements may be different fromhumans, a balanced nutritional system is required for optimal bacterialactivity.

There are thousands of identified sites in the United States containinghazardous wastes. For most of these sites, the recognized methods forclosure are:

1. Cap and store-in-place

2. Removal to an approved hazardous waste landfill.

3. Solidify in place with fixation chemicals

In addition to the methods generally known, many industrial plants haveused biological solutions to effect closures. Quite a few biologicalcleanups took place prior to the effect of the RCRA and TSCAlegislation. Now under the formal guidelines of current hazardous wasteregulation, use of biological treatment can offer an economicalalternative to the methods listed above.

Biological treatment of hazardous waste chemicals can take the followingforms:

1. Treatment of industrial wastewater through biological oxidation underan NPDES permit.

2. Treatment of on site chemicals through controlled release to anNPDES-permitted system (many states allow this through a temporarypermit amendment).

3. Treatment of leachates collected under hazardous waste sites. In somecases a cone of depression can be created to leach organics out at arapid rate.

4. Land farm of sludges and solid-containing organics.

Land farming is of principle interest due to the large numbers of areasites with contaminated sludges and soils.

A key issue in a hazardous waste site closure is permitting land farms.Often obtaining such a permit is not feasible under existingregulations. In most cases, those regulations were intended to addressnew land farms. Land farming is a biochemical process which operates atlow biological reaction rates. The variables controlling total cleanuptime in a land farm are initial substrate concentrations, desiredtreatment levels, area available for land farm and turnaround time todispose of decontaminated sludge or soil. Many hazardous waste sitescould be successfully land farmed in 6-12 months, after pilot work iscomplete.

The actual protocol for remediating a particular site should beestablished for each site by a combination of pilot testing andpractice. A typical protocol for remediating a hazardous waste sitewould be as follows:

1. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SITE

This includes additional soil borings, groundwater monitoring andchemical analyses to determine the site contamination characteristics.

2. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ORGANICS AS TO BIODEGRADABILITY

This is usually researched into the treatability of chemicals found inthe site.

3. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SOIL

The soil must be analyzed for pH, macronutrients (N,P,K), micronutrients(usually trace metals), permeability, moisture content and otherconditions which will determine its suitability for land farming.

4. CRITERIA FOR SUCCESSFUL LAND TREATMENT

A chemical protocol is established to allow monitoring of the land farm.This is a two-tier protocol consisting of:

A. Control analyses to allow quick determination of treatment progressduring the land farming.

B. Objective toxicity testing to be used when control analyses indicatethat the treatment is complete. This includes all testing for leachatepriority pollutants.

5. BENCH SCALE LAND FARM TREATMENT

Using the site characteristics, the land farm is simulated andefficiency of the treatment is proven. Samples of decontaminated soiland sludge may be presented for reference analyses.

6. DESIGN OF LAND FARM TREATMENT

The consultant and land farm specialists designate the portion of theclosure site to be used for the land farm and design excavationschedules, aeration and mixing techniques, irrigation method, run-offcollection, and decontaminated soil removal and disposal method.

7. IMPLEMENTATION OF LAND FARM TREATMENT

Beginning with a surface treatment of the site to be used, the land farmis begun. After control testing shows a desired level of treatment,toxicology tests are made. The soil may then be decontaminated andremoved, if desired. Land farming is then usually continued in 12"lifts.

8. CLOSURE

Decontaminated sludges and soils are removed to a nonhazardous wastelandfill or landfilled on-site.

The above steps are difficult and timely in their performance. They arealso extremely costly to perform for the end user.

There are known machines for physically mixing materials in the fieldsuch as compost to maintain aerobic conditions. An example is U.S. Pat.No. 4,360,065 to Jenison et al. The Jenison cultivator comprises ahorizontal rotating drum having a plurality of cultivator blades in twohelical rows. As the drum is rotated, the blades travel edgewise througha pile of contaminated material to move the material sideways and pileit in a generally triangular pile. The '065 patent further describesother contaminated machines such as the Scarab, sold by ScarabManufacturing and Leasing, Inc. of White Deer, Tex. U.S. Pat. No.3,369,797 to Cobey describes a compost turner and windrow formingmachine having a transversely mounted rotating drum for the turning ofcompost piles and the redepositing of the turned up material in awindrow. Yet another contaminated apparatus is described in U.S. Pat.No. 4,019,723 to Urbanczyk. The '723 patent describes a mobile apparatusfor manure which moves a rotating drum over masses of inoculated manureto flail it, mix it, cool it and aerate it, while moistening theparticles as the same time. After being conditioned and moisturized, thematerial is formed into a pile by a rear outlet opening. As with theCobey apparatus, the flails mounted on the drum of the Urbanczyk machinetravel edgewise through the contaminated material for flailing andmixing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,520 also to Cobey describes a compostturning machine which straddles a compost windrow while carrying arotating drum for turning the contaminated material. The '520 apparatusadditionally has an adjuster auger system outboard of the rotating drumto collect additional material and deposit it in the path of therotating drum. This is the Cobey machine referred to earlier.

A need therefore exists for a method of remediation or bioremediationwhich will overcome the problems associated with the above describedprior art methods by substantially eliminating the contaminants fromcontaminated material in an effective, efficient and accelerated manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Applicants have met the above-described existing needs and have overcomethe above-described prior art problems through the invention set forthherein.

In one form of the invention, a method of using an apparatus is providedfor the accelerated remediation and/or bioremediation of treatedcontaminated material. More specifically, a contaminated material iscombined with at least one chemical amendment, with or without abiological amendment, to form a treated contaminated material. Then, anair stream is generated at a velocity sufficient for entraining thetreated contaminated material therein, and the treated contaminatedmaterial is entrained in the air stream. The treated contaminatedmaterial is microenfractionated under conditions sufficient to form amicroenfractionated treated contaminated material such that subsequentaccelerated remediation or bioremediation is provided under conditionssufficient for conducting said accelerated remediation orbioremediation. In this way, the accelerated remediation orbioremediation of the treated contaminated material can be facilitated.

Typically, the chemical amendment comprises an a chemical oxidizingagent which is in the form of a liquid or a solid, preferably an aqueoussolution. Preferably, the chemical amendment can comprise a peroxide, apermanganate, a nitrate, a nitrite, a peroxydisulfate, a perchlorate, asulfate, chlorate, a hypochlorite, an iodate, a trioxide, aperoxybenzoic acid, an oxide, an iodic acid, a nitric acid, a periodicacid, a peracetic acid, a hydantoin, a triazinetrione, a hydroxide, apercarbonate, a superoxide, an isocyanate, an isocyanic acid, abromanate, a biiodate, a bromate, a bromate-bromide, a molybdic acid, adichromate, a chromate, a periodate, a chlorite, an iodate, or aperborate. More preferably, the chemical amendment can comprise any oneof the following: aluminum nitrate, ammonium dichromate, ammoniumnitrate, ammonium peroxydisulfate, ammonium permanganate, aquaquantsulfate, ammonium perchlorate, microquant sulfate, ammoniumperoxydisulfate, spectroquant nitrate, barium bromate, barium chlorate,barium nitrate, barium perchlorate, barium permanganate, bariumperoxide, cadmium nitrate, 1-bromo-3chloro-5, 5 dimenthylhydantoin,bismuth nitrate, calcium hypochlorite, calcium iodate, calcium nitrate,ceric ammonium nitrate, ceric sulfate, calcium chlorate, calciumchlorite, calcium hypochlorite, calcium perchlorate, calciumpermanganate, calcium peroxide, cerous nitrate, chloric acid, chromiumtrioxide, chromium nitrate, cobalt nitrate, copper chlorate, cupricnitrate, halane (1,3, dichloro-5, 5-dimenthylhydandoin),3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, cobalt nitrate, ferric nitrate, hydrogenperoxide, guanidine nitrate, iodic acid, lanthanum nitrate,lead dioxide,lead nitrate, lead oxide, lead perchlorate, lithium nitrate, lithiumperchlorate, lithium hypochlorite, lithium chlorate, lithium peroxidelithium, perchlorate, magnesium bromate, magnesium chlorate, magnesiumperoxide, magnesium nitrate, mercuric nitrate, mercurous nitrate,mercurous chlorate, manganese dioxide,mono-(trichloro)-tetra(monopotassium dichloro)-penta-α-triazinetrione,magnesium perchlorate, nitric acid,nickel nitrate, mercurous nitrate,periodic acid, peracetic acid,perchloric acid solutions, Class II andIII (depending upon centration), potassium peroxide, potassiumsuperoxide, potassium biiodate, potassium bromate, potassiumbromate-bromide, phosphomolybdic acid, phenylmercuric nitrate, potassiumhydroxide, potassium iodate, potassium dichromate, potassium nitrate,potassium nitrite, potassium chromate, potassiumdichloro-β-triazinetrione (potassium dichloroisocyanate), potassiumdichromate, potassium chlorate, potassium percarbonate, potassiumnitrate, potassium perchlorate, potassium periodate, potassiumpermanganate, potassium persulfate, silver peroxide, sodium bromate,sodium carbonate peroxide, sodium dichloro-β-triazinetrione (sodiumdichloroisocyanate) silver nitrate, silver oxide, silver perchlorate,sodium chlorite, sodium chlorate, sodium nitrate, sodium iodate, sodiumdichromate, sodium nitrate, sodium perborate, sodium perborate(anhydrous) sodium perchlorate, sodium percarbonate, sodium perchloratemonohydrate, sodium periodate, sodium nitrite, sodium persulfate, sodiumpermanganate, sodium peroxide, strontium nitrate, strontium perchlorate,strontium peroxide, thorium nitrate, trichloroisocyanic acid, zincnitrate, thallic nitrate, uranyl nitrate, urea peroxide, yttriumnitrate, zinc bromanate, zinc chlorate, zinc permanganate, and zincperoxide.

A chemical amendment which can also be employed in the process of thepresent invention is a chelating agent. A chelating agent is a chemicalstructure that combines with metal ions in the ground, tying up themetal ions, and making them substantially unreactive. The chelatingagent complexes with the metal ion, forming a ring structure that blocksthe metal ion's normal reactive sites, thereby preventing it fromreacting as it normally would.

Important and suitable complexing agents are aliphaticalpha-hydroxycarboxylic acids of the type RCHOHCOOH and thecorresponding beta-hydroxycarboxylic acids RCHOHCH₂ COOH have theproperty of forming chelates with metals. Examples of suitablecomplexing agents are ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA),nitrolotriacetic acid (NTA) and diethylenediamine-pentaacetic acid(DPTA) and amines, hydroxyl containing amines such as mono-,di- andtriethanolamine and diamines, triamines, polyamines having complexingproperties. Mixtures of these complexing agents may also be used toadvantage, as can also the combination of nitrogen containing andnitrogen free complexing agents. The most well known of these chelatingagents include nitrogenous carboxylic acids such as EDTA, HEDTA, andDTPA. Examples of these chelating agents include the Versene® chelatingagents manufactured by Dow Chemical Company.

Exemplary alpha- and beta-hydroxy carboxylic acids are glycolic acid,lactic acid, glyceric acid, α, β-dihydroxybutyric acid,α-hydroxy-butyric acid, α-hydroxy-isobutyric acid, α-hydroxy-n-valericacid, α-hydroxy-isovaleric acid, β-hydroxy butyric acid,α-hydroxy-isobutyric acid, β-hydroxy-n-valeric acid,β-hydroxy-isovaleric acid, erythronic acid, threonic acid,trihydroxy-isobutyric acid and saccharinic acids and aldonic acids, suchas gluconic acid, galactoni acid, talonic acid, mannonic acid, arabonicacid, ribonic acid, xylonic acid, lyxonic acid, gulonic acid,idonicacid, altronic acid, allonic acid, ethenyl glycolic acid, andβ-hydroxy-isocrotonic acid.

Also useful are organic acids having two or more carboxylic groups, andno or from one to ten hydroxyle groups, such as oxalic acid, malonicacid, tartaric acid, malonic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, and citricacid, ethyl malonic acid, succinic acid, isosuccinic acid, glutaricacid, adipic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, maleic acid, fumaricacid, glutaconic acid, citramalic acid, trihydroxy glutaric acid,tetrahydroxy adipic acid, dihydroxy maleic acid, mucie acud,mannosaccharic acid, idosaccharic acid, talomucie acid, tricarballylicacid, aconitic acid, and dihydroxy tartaric acid.

The contaminated material can comprise a material selected from a groupconsisting of a polycyclic and chlorinated polycyclic, an aromatic andchloroaromatic compound, a heterocyclic and chlorinated heterocycliccompound, and an aliphatic and a chloroaliphatic compound. Morespecifically, the contaminated material can be selected from a groupconsisting of phenol, cresol, pentachlorophenol, phenanthrene andnaphthalene.

The method of the present invention can further include the step ofcombining a chemical reaction activator with a chemical amendment. Forexample, the oxidation of organic pollutants may be conducted usinghydrogen peroxide and/or transition metals. Higher valence transitionmetals, such as iron or manganese, may directly oxidize organicpollutants or indirectly catalyze the reactions with molecular oxygen.

Another method for degradation of pollutants involves the use ofhemoglobin or a portion of the hemoglobin molecule. Hemoglobin isdefined as an iron-containing conjugated protein respiratory pigmentoccurring in the red blood cells of vertebrates. In a dark purplishcrystallizable form of hemoglobin found chiefly in the venous blood ofvertebrates, it is a conjugated protein composed of heme and globin.Heme is the deep red iron-containing group C₃₄ H₃₂ N₄ O₄ Fe of thehemoglobin molecule. In a preferred form of this invention, the hemeportion of hemoglobin can be combined with hydrogen peroxide andemployed as a chemical reaction activator. Heme can also be used inseveral forms such hemin or spray-dried hemoglobin.

Preferably, the accelerated remediation or bioremediation reaction isconducted aerobically or abiotically, and more preferably by an in situabiotic process. The reaction can also be conducted methanogenically.

Generally, the means for generating a treated contaminated materialentraining air stream at a predetermined velocity comprises an elongatedrum having a longitudinal axis, first and second end portions, and acenter portion. The drum is rotatable about its longitudinal axis at apredetermined rotational speed, and means extending outwardly from thedrum are provided for generating the treated contaminated materialentraining air stream. Preferably, the treated contaminated materialentraining air stream comprises a plurality of air currents, and the aircurrent generating means comprises a plurality of paddles extendingoutwardly from the cylindrical outer surface of the drum. Typically,each paddle comprises a base portion connected to the drum, and a bladeportion. Each blade portion has a major surface oriented for generatingat least one the air current having a sufficient velocity for entrainingand transporting treated contaminated material upwardly of the rotatingdrum when the drum is rotated at the predetermined rotational velocity.

The treated contaminated material entraining air stream preferablycomprises a plurality of intersecting air currents. Each of theintersecting air currents has a sufficient velocity for entraining andtransporting a portion of the treated contaminated material upwardly ofthe air stream generating means. More specifically, the means forgenerating a plurality of intersecting air currents comprises aplurality of end paddles extending radially outwardly from the first andsecond end portions of the drum. Each end paddle can comprise a baseportion connected to the drum and a blade portion. In this instance, theblade portion has a major surface oriented relative to the drum forgenerating an air current directed upwardly of the drum and transverselytoward the center portion of the drum when the drum is rotated at thepredetermined rotational speed. It also has a plurality of centerpaddles extending radially outwardly from the center portion of thecylindrical outer surface. Each center paddle comprises a base portionconnected to the drum, and a blade portion having first and second majorsurfaces. The first and second major surfaces are oriented relative tothe drum for generating an air current directed upwardly and rearwardlyof, and transversely toward the first and second end portions of thedrum respectively when the drum is rotated at the predeterminedrotational speed. In use, the air currents generated by the end andcenter paddles intersect and combine to form the treated contaminatedmaterial entraining air stream for microenfractionating the treatedcontaminated material.

In a preferred embodiment, the treated contaminated material entrainingair stream comprises a vortex-type air stream which transports theentrained treated contaminated material in a generally circular path. Inthis case, the end and center paddles can extend radially outwardly fromthe drum so that they are arranged in a plurality of helicallongitudinal rows. Also, the drum can further comprises first and secondtransition portions disposed between the center portion and the firstand second end portions respectively. The first and second transitionportions of the drums having a plurality of end paddles and a pluralityof center paddles extending radially outwardly therefrom.

In another form of the invention, a method of accelerated remediation orbioremediation of treated contaminated material is provided. This methodcomprises the steps of (a) treating the treated contaminated materialwith chemical biological amendments for facilitating acceleratedremediation or bioremediation thereof, (b) providing an entraining airstream having a sufficient velocity for entraining the treatedcontaminated material therein, (c) entraining the treated contaminatedmaterial in the air stream, (d) microenfractionating the treatedcontaminated material, and (e) discharging the microenfractionatedtreated contaminated material from the air stream so that the treatedcontaminated material will be acceleratedly remediated. Themicroenfractionating step preferably comprises homogenization andaeration of the treated contaminated material. The entraining air streampreferably comprises providing an entraining air stream including aplurality of upwardly and transversely flowing, intersecting aircurrents, and more preferably comprises a vortex-like entraining airstream. Typically, the step of providing an entraining air streamincludes the step of rotating a drum assembly at a rotational speedsufficient for generating the entraining air stream. The drum assemblycan include means for generating this plurality of intersecting aircurrents when the drum assembly is rotated.

In one preferred method, the treated contaminated material iscontaminated with a hydrocarbon material, and the acceleratedremediation or bioremediation of the treated contaminated materialcomprises accelerated chain scission of the hydrocarbon material. Inanother case, when the treated contaminated material is contaminatedwith hydrocarbon material, the accelerated remediation orbioremediation, typically employing chemical oxidation, produces CO₂ andwater (H₂ O) from the treated contaminated soil and purges CO₂therefrom. If the hydrocarbon contaminant is halogenated, a halogen willalso be produced. A further instance is where the treated contaminatedmaterial is contaminated with hydrocarbon material, and the acceleratedremediation or bioremediation comprises reduction of the totalhydrocarbon material in the treated contaminated material.

In general, at least about 70%, preferably at least about 80%, morepreferably at least about 90%, and most preferably at least about 95% ofthe accelerated remediation or bioremediation of the treatedcontaminated material is completed within 150 days, preferably within120 days, more preferably within 90 days, and most preferably within 60days. Moreover, the volume of treated contaminated material which isacceleratedly remediately treated by the method of the present inventionis generally at least about 1500 cubic yards, preferably at least about2000 cubic yards more preferably at least about 2500 cubic yards, mostpreferably at least about 3000 cubic yards, per day per apparatus. Thisis particularly significant in the case of chlorinated contaminatessince most prior art systems cannot remediate these compounds even afteryears of trying to treat same.

The method of the subject invention produces high surface area treatedcontaminated microenfractionated material. The surface area of thetreated contaminated non-microenfractionated material can be increased,after the microenfractionating step, as compared to the surface area ofthe treated contaminated nonmicroenfractionated material, by a factor ofat least about 1×10⁶, preferably at least about 2×10⁶, more preferablyat least about 3.5×10⁶, and most preferably at least about 5×10⁶. Morespecifically, the subject method can further include the step ofdischarging the microenfractionated treated contaminated material fromthe air stream and redistributing it throughout a soil matrix. In thismanner, the surface area of the microenfractionated treated contaminatedmaterial is substantially increased. This is especially important whendealing with clay type soils.

Most prior art remediation or bioremediation processes cannot beconducted at ambient temperatures below 10 degrees C. However, when themethod of the subject invention is employed, the aforementioned highdegree of accelerated remediation or bioremediation can be maintained atan average ambient temperature which is not more than about 10 degreesC., preferably not more than about 7 degrees C., more preferably notmore than about 3 degrees C., and most preferably not more than about 1degree C.

One reason why the accelerated remediation or bioremediation of thisinvention can be conducted at the low ambient temperature conditionsdescribed in the preceding paragraph herein, is that the subjectreaction is generates a more substantial amount of exothermic heat thanknown prior art remediation or bioremediation processes. Thus, theaccelerated remediation or bioremediation is preferably conducted at anexothermic temperature measured within the contaminated material of atleast about 5 degrees, and more preferably at least about 10 degrees,higher than an average ambient air temperatures of from about zero up toabout 10 degrees C.

As for the treatment of the contaminated material with the chemicalamendments, it is preferred that they are dispersed throughout theredistributed microenfractionated treated contaminated material therebyfacilitating accelerated remediation or bioremediation.

Other preferred embodiments of the subject method include (a) locatingan impervious undercover below the treated contaminated material priorto the microenfractionating step thereby preventing the chemicalamendments from leaching into soil underlying the treated contaminatedmaterial, and (b) a cover over the microenfractionated treatedcontaminated material, the cover allowing substantial solar radiation topass therethrough and into the microenfractionated treated contaminatedmaterial, thereby facilitating the accelerated remediation orbioremediation and preventing moisture from soaking themicroenfractionated treated contaminated material and to preventmoisture evaporation from the microenfractionated treated contaminatedmaterial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the preferred apparatus for use in the presentinvention.

FIG. 1A shows a front view of an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1B schematically depicts an exemplary flow tank system 225.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A shows a rear view of an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a left side view of another embodiment of the apparatusaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a left side view of the apparatus according to the presentinvention as shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A.

FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of the pivoting rear wheel assembly in itsextended position.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5A is a top view of an alternative embodiment of an apparatusaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 configured for beingdriven sideways.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 configured for beingtowed sideways.

FIG. 7A is a front view of an apparatus shown in FIGS. 1A and 2Aconfigured for being transported by towing.

FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the drum shaft bearing assembly.

FIG. 8 is a right side cross-sectional view of the drum and paddleassembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the center portion of the drumand paddle assembly, showing the counter-rotating vortex-like airstreamsgenerated when the assembly is rotated.

FIG. 9A is bottom view of an alternate drum and paddle assembly.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a right side paddle.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a center paddle.

FIG. 12 is a top view of a left side paddle.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a right side paddle showing the shear pinfeature, and showing the released paddle in phantom.

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of a contaminated material accordingto the present invention, having the drapes removed to expose thechamber and drum assembly.

FIG. 15 is a top view of windrows formed in the treated contaminatedmaterial prior to microenfractionation.

FIG. 16 is a side view of windrows formed in the treated contaminatedmaterial prior to microenfractionation.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 18 is a front elevational view of a drum showing an alternativepaddle arrangement wherein paddles in adjacent rows are offset.

FIG. 19 is an partial side view of an apparatus showing the drum drivemotor mounted on a torque plate.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view along line A--A in FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the ex-situ method of this invention, the soil should be removed fromthe contaminated site and placed in windrows on top of durable linerwhich acts as an underliner in the subject accelerated remediation orbioremediation process. This underliner substantially preventsundesirable materials present in the ex-situ soil from leaching into thesurrounding uncontaminated soil prior to the completion of theremediation or bioremediation process. It has been determined that awoven polyolefin fabric of the type exemplified by NOVA-THENE®RB616-6HD, manufactured by Polymer International (N.S.) Inc., of TrucoNova Scotia, Canada, is one of the most durable liners available forthis purpose. One reason is that it will remain intact during themicroenfractionation of the treated contaminated material by thehereinafter described subject apparatus.

After the liner has been laid down in a pile (on as smooth a surface aspossible), a layer of sand is applied over the liner. Windrows aretypically spaced 6-8 feet apart. The windrows should be no wider than 14feet and no higher than 6 feet. The above-described liner is extendedout 4 feet past edge of pile with a berm of about eight inches to allowthe microenfractionating equipment to straddle the pile. All rocks,chunks of concrete larger than two inches and other debris should beremoved from contaminated soil prior to microenfractionation. Once thecontaminated dirt has been windrowed, treatment with the chemicalamendments can commence.

SOIL ANALYSIS PRIOR TO STARTING TREATMENT

First, the soil is analyzed for contaminant, and a full agriculturalanalysis is done. The testing for total petroleum hydrocarbons is not initself an easy task. The type and quantity of contaminant must beaccurately revealed. The contaminant reduction requirements must also beknown. In addition, a series of soil tests must be undertaken. Thesetests include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon Levels

The amount and nature of the hydrocarbon contaminants in the soil mustbe first determined. These include BTEX, PCP, PAR, PCB and the like.(EPATest Nos. 418.1, 8015, 8020, 8270, etc.)

2. Standard 1/3 Bar Moisture Retention

The test will ascertain the quantity of water this soil will retain whenplaced under 1/3 bar vacuum. This is a standardized test to determinethe saturation point of the soil with water. Knowing this will assist indetermining the quantity of moisture that can be reasonably utilizedduring soil treatment.

3. pH

This test will determine if the soil is acidic, basic or neutral. AcidicpH is best for chemical oxidation degradation. If the soil is too basic(i.e. pH 8.0 or above), soil amendments will be necessary to make thesoil pH more acidic.

4. Standard Buffer Capacity

This test will determine how much acid or base can be introduced intothe soil before a pH change occurs. This information is useful becausesoil amendments can alter pH as can biological metabolyte materialsproduced during the biological treatment of petroleum hydrocarboncontaminated soil.

5. Standard Electrical Conductivity

Bacteria require a certain amount of electrical conductivity to surviveand metabolize nutrients. If there is too little electrical conductivityor too much, the biological system can be inhibited or destroyed. Again,soil amendments can alter electrical conductivity if it becomesnecessary.

6. Standard Sodium Absorption ratio (SAR)

This test determines an estimate of the exchangeable sodium percentageof what a soil is, or what it is likely to become if the water thatcomprises the sample water is in that soil for long periods of time. TheSAR has a good correlation to the exchangeable sodium percentage and iseasier to calculate exactly (or to estimate from a few simple analysis)than is exchangeable sodium percentage. If the SAR exceeds 13, thebiological system will be greatly impaired.

The purpose for the test is to determine if too much salt in the soilwill inhibit biological activity by having sodium ions occupy a highproportion of exchange sites in the soil causing high pH and low waterpermeability. If this situation occurs, biological activity will slow orcease. Note that the use of inorganic nutrients can promote high saltcontent in soil due to the salt nature of inorganic nutrients. Organicbased nutrients do not cause this to happen because they are not saltbased.

7. Standard Organic Matter

Organic matter is required for any biological system to functionproperly. The organic matter can be a media of bacteria, it can supplynutrients in some cases, and it can be an indicator of biologicalactivity. Knowing the organic matter level can help determine ifadditional organic matter is needed for soils treatment.

8. Standard Micro-nutrient Profile of the Soil

In addition to macro-nutrients, a micro-nutrient profile of the soil isvery useful. Macro-nutrients are elements such as sulfur, copper, iron,zinc, boron, manganese, sodium, magnesium and calcium. All of theseelements are necessary for microbial growth in very small quantities. Ifone or more of these nutrients are absent or unavailable, bacterialactivity is inhibited. Conversely, if one or more micro-nutrients isexcessive, this can also be inhibitory on bacterial growth. This must beknown. The soil type of the contaminated soil must be ascertained, i.e.percentage of sand, silt, or clay. Each soil type must be treateddifferently. For instance, straight sand may not be capable of retainingmoisture; clay or fine silt may require the addition of sand to assistin breaking the soil platelets apart, so that oxygen is not excludedfrom the system.

9. Redox Potential

This is a measure of the potential for a soil to oxidize or reduceintroduced materials. More specifically, in soils, the redox potentialdetermines the oxidation-reduction equilibrium as measured analyticallyusing an electrode (usually a platinum electrode). This electrodepotential will yield the oxidation states of iron and manganese in thesoil as well as the sulfate/sulfide ratio, the nitrate activity, andother elements or compounds actively receiving or releasing electrons.The redox potential value is useful in estimating the quantities ofoxidative chemicals required for remedial activity.

10. Contaminants

This includes the contaminant materials which typically pollute the soilincluding pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, dioxins, PAH compounds,and chlorinated hydrocarbons.

EX-SITU SOIL TREATMENT

Ex-situ treatment is the removal of contaminated material to a secondsite, and the remediation or bioremediation of thereof at that secondsite. In providing the second site, a berm is made typically from soil,straw or concrete ecology blocks. The width and length is dependent onthe area available for use in remediation or bioremediation. First, thearea contained by the berm is smoothed. It is then covered with theabove-described underliner in order to create an impermeable barrierbetween the contaminated soil and the uncontaminated soil. Next, theunderliner is covered with 2-4 inches of fine sand or pea gravel. Then,the windrows of contaminated soil 14 ft.wide and 6 ft. tall are laidout. Space must be left at sides and ends of berm for maneuvering themicroenfractionating equipment. Finally, the entire windrow layout iscovered with a translucent outdoor material which permits solarradiation to pass therethrough. The preferred material for this purposeis Loretex 1212 UV (clear), manufactured by Chave & Earley, Inc. of NewYork City, N.Y., a woven polyethylene substrate coated with polyethylenewhich is manufactured by The Loretex Corporation.

TREATMENT OF CONTAMINATED MATERIALS

The soil is prepared by first adjusting the pH. In general, the soil pHis maintained in an acidic to neutral environment. Therefore, the pH ofsoil is preferably adjusted to between about 4.0 and 7.0, morepreferably between about 4.5 and 6.5, and most preferably about 5.0, andis then treated with the chemical amendments.

TREATMENT CELL CONSTRUCTION

The treatment cell design of choice is a windrow configuration with thesoil pile dimensions. For example, a windrow configuration conforming to14 feet wide at the base, 5 feet wide at the top and a height of no morethan 6.5 feet. Windrow length is limited only to available space at agiven job site. The windrow should be placed on a level, smooth, firmsurface. An underliner of the must be used and must be a continuouspiece for surrounding environment protection. The edges of theunderliner must be burned 8" to 10" to prevent any leachate that may beproduced during treatment form escaping. The berm material may vary, buta ridge of sand under the underliner and completely surrounding thecontaminated soil works very well. Typically, when using this treatmentmethod, no leachate collection basin has been necessary. By using sandor a similar textured material, the underliner covering the bermedsection can be driven on by the microenfracting apparatus without damageto the underliner.

After the underliner structure and windows are set up, the soilamendments--pH modifiers and chemical oxidants--may be added. The methodfor dispersion of soil amendment is via broadcast spraying by the H&HEco Systems spray unit or equivalent, or it is injected directly intomicroenfractionating chamber of the Microenfractionator™ during thecourse of its operation.

A one piece top cover made from Loretex 1212 UV material is veryresistant to damage from solar radiation. This material also transmitsthe maximum amount of solar radiation to the contaminated soil, thusassisting with elevated soil temperatures to assist the chemicaloxidative reaction. This property is very useful in promoting chemicalactivity during periods of low ambient air temperature.

MICROENFRACTIONATION

Soil microenfractionation is one of the most critical aspects of soilremediation or bioremediation, such as chemical oxidative treatment ofcontaminated materials in general, and more particularly petroleumhydrocarbon contaminated soils. In the case of most petroleumhydrocarbon contaminated soil, for example, it is very unevenlycontaminated or fractious in nature. The hydrocarbons will frequentlyform "globs" of contamination of high concentration in the soil. These"globs" repel water as well as maintaining a high enough concentrationof petroleum hydrocarbon to inhibit complete chemical oxidation exceptat the contamination interface. The contamination interface willgenerally provide conditions favorable for chemical reaction with bothavailable oxidants and relatively low hydrocarbon concentrations. Theoxidative degradation rate is thus controlled by the active surface areaof the hydrocarbon contaminant.

One conclusion that could be discerned from this is that, if the surfacearea of the hydrocarbon contaminant was increased, the rate of chemicaloxidative reactivity would also increase. The apparatus used for thatpurpose in the subject invention very actively disperses the hydrocarboncontaminant throughout the soil matrix. The apparatus, known as the HHSYSTEM 614 Turborator, is manufactured by Frontier Manufacturing Companyand is capable of increasing surface area by a factor of at least about1×10⁶ with one two-way mixing pass. This same mixing action can disperseall of the soil amendments in the same manner. No other soil mixingmachine currently in use is capable of this type of mixing. The HHSYSTEM 614 Turborator does not just "mix" the soil; it literallyhomogenizes and aerates it. With this corresponding increase in surfacearea, the remediation or bioremediation degradation rate, in this caseoxidative remediation or bioremediation degradation rate, will increaseby several thousand times. This process is defined, for purposes of thisinvention, as "microenfractionation".

After all additions are added, then the microenfractionation step cantake place. For example, after application of pH modifiers and chemicalsusing a spray system such as the HH System 1000 sprayer, then anapparatus, such as the HH SYSTEM 614 Turborator, can start its work. Inorder to achieve the maximum effect, the microenfractionating apparatuspreferably must be passed through the soil matrix at least twice. Themost efficient method is for the machine to pass through the soil in onedirection, then, turn on its axis and pass through the soil in theopposite direction. This way the soil displacement (longitudinally) isessentially negated.

Stirring intervals for the contaminated soil will depend on the rate ofremediation or bioremediation activity. If all of the treatmentspecifications are adhered to, a very rapid remediation orbioremediation rate will ensue. Additional/more frequent chemicalrequirements may be necessary depending on the soil analysis/testingdone as the project progresses.

In the past, machines such rototillers, trackhoes, discs, and the likewere used in remediation or bioremediation to "stir" contaminated soil.In the case of trackhoes, for example, this procedure was extremely timeconsuming, frequently taking all day to stir 500 cu. yards of soil. Thisfactor alone greatly limited the economics of attempting a largeremediation or bioremediation site. The soil handling would probably becost prohibitive. While this method did a much better job of stirringthan rototillers, it still did not address the stirring problemcompletely. Ideally the soil should be very thoroughly mixed with thesoil amendments. The track hoe did not totally address this. It was alsotoo costly as well as inadequate in aerating the soil. Extensiveresearch was done to find soil mixing equipment that would adequatelyaddress all of the requirements for efficient biodegradation ofhydrocarbons. A variety of rototillers, track hoe attachments, pugmills, batch mixers and shakers were researched. While some of themachines identified had merit, daily mixing volumes were limited. Also,all of the machines were inadequate in aeration.

The HH System 614 Turborator can mix remediation or bioremediationchemicals such as pH modifiers, chemical oxidants, other amendments withcontaminated soil to form a treated microenfractionated material.Hydrocarbons will rarely contaminate soils in a uniform manner due tocauses ranging from varying soil permeability to the water insolublenature of hydrocarbons. Reducing the normally fractious nature ofhydrocarbon contamination in soils is a task that this apparatus canaccomplish very effectively. The mixing action simultaneously mixes theremediation or bioremediation chemicals and any other soil amendmentswith the hydrocarbon contaminated soil. This action brings theremediation or bioremediation chemicals and any soil amendments intodirect contact with the contaminated soil to allow the most efficientremediation or bioremediation system. The HH System 614 also aerates thesoil very thoroughly to keep the soil in an oxidated rather than areduced state. It is also much faster - it can "microenfractionate" 500cubic yards of soil per hour rather than "stir" the 1000 cubic yards perday that the track hoe is capable of doing.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a microenfractionating apparatus for usein the present invention is shown generally at 10. A second embodimentis shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A which differs in detail as described below.

The apparatus 10 includes frame 12 which is assembled from ladder-typeleft, right, and top subframes, 12a, 12b and 12c respectively. Frame 12is supported at its front end by left and right drive wheels 14 and 16,and at the rear by left and right caster wheels 18 and 19. Each wheelmounted on an axle which is journaled into a supporting frame assembly40. Each rear caster wheel is mounted into its respective frame assembly40 by a vertical shaft journaled into frame assembly 40 as shown in FIG.3. Each rear caster wheel may be locked into a transverse position bylocking pin assembly 19 when desired as described below. Each frameassembly 40 includes an upright member 42 slidably received within acomplementary vertical sleeve 44 of a mounting assembly 46. Frameassembly 40 may thereby be raised or lowered relative to the ground onupright member 42 by actuation of hydraulic cylinder 43, allowing theground clearance of apparatus 10 to be raised or lowered duringoperation as more fully described below. Mounting bracket 46 is in turnpivotally mounted on frame 12 at brackets 48, allowing each frameassembly 40 and wheel to be pivoted by actuation of hydraulic cylinder45 for different modes of operation as described below.

A spray system 200, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3A, is provided fordischarging chemical amendments and/or biological amendments into theair stream generated by the apparatus 10 which contains themicroenfractionated contaminated material. In this way, the contaminatedmaterial can be treated with the chemical amendments and/or biologicalamendments thereby facilitating said accelerated remediation orbioremediation. The spray system 200 comprises a transversely-extendingflow pipe 214, which extends across the front of the apparatus 10,beyond the transverse extent of the apparatus 10. Vented ball valves220, including quick-connect fittings, are connected at each end of pipe214. A hose 275 (not shown) from a tank 240 (shown in FIG. 1B)containing chemical and/or biological amendments can be attached toeither or both of the valves 220 for introducing the amendment(s) intothe pipe 214, and then into the flow pipe 212 and nozzle 210 (see FIG.3A).

Connected to the midpoint of flow pipe 214 is one end of a shorter flowpipe 212. Flow pipe 212 extends rearwardly at a right angle to the flowpipe 214. The other end of the flow pipe 214 is joined to a spray nozzle210 which discharges a spray 250 of chemical amendments and/orbiological amendments into the air stream generated by the apparatus 10.

One or more trailers (not shown) can be attached to the rear ofapparatus 10. Each trailer has a flow tank system 225 mounted thereonfor transferring the chemical amendment and/or biological amendment tothe flow pipes 214 and 212, and in turn to the spray nozzle 210. Anexemplary flow tank system 225, shown schematically in FIG. 1B,comprises a holding tank 240 for storing the chemical amendment and/orbiological amendment. In order to transfer the chemical amendment and/orbiological amendment to the spray nozzle 210 from holding tank 240, apump 230 moves the amendment(s) from tank 240 (see arrows A), throughflow pipes 245, 255, and 265, and then through hose 275 to valve 220,and onto spray nozzle 210. Hose 275 is connected to valve 220 by a quickconnect fitting. Pump 230 can also transfer chemical amendment and/orbiological amendment from pump 230 back to holding tank 240 (see arrowsB). The path of chemical amendment and/or biological amendment from pipe245 to pipe 255 is limited by vented check valve 260. The path ofchemical amendment and/or biological amendment from pipe 265 to hose 275is limited by vented check valve 265. Finally, the path of chemicalamendment and/or biological amendment from pipe 265 to pipe 285 islimited by vented check valve 280

In certain cases the chemical amendments and/or biological amendmentshave detrimental effect on the materials of construction of theapparatus 10. For example, peroxides are know to corrode a number ofmetals. In these instances it is advisable to use a material ofconstruction for the apparatus 10 such as stainless steel and therebyavoid these detrimental effects.

An alternative design for the wheel frame assemblies 40 is shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B. Note that in the alternative frame assembly design fordrive wheels 14 and 16, frame assembly 40 does not pivot, but rather ismoved rearward by hydraulic cylinder 45 and raised up by hydrauliccylinder 43 to its stowed position.

As best seen by reference to FIG. 5, frame 12 includes upper deck 32 onwhich are mounted fuel tank 34, operator's cab 36, hydraulic oil tank37, engine 38, and hydraulic pumps 40, 42 and 44. As readily appreciatedby those skilled in the art, suitable auxiliary equipment for operationof the engine and drive components in dusty environments is alsoprovided, such as rotating self-cleaning screen 41 of the cooling systemof engine 38. Power for the operation of apparatus 10 is provided byhydraulic pumps 40, 42 and 44, which are driven by engine 38, preferablya 402 hp diesel engine such as Model 3406, manufactured by Caterpillar.Each hydraulic pump 40a and 40b delivers pressurized hydraulic fluid toeach of drum assembly drive motors 48a and 48b to reversibly driverotating drum and paddle assembly 22 from each end. Hydraulic pumps 42aand 42b deliver pressurized hydraulic fluid to left and right drivemotors 50 and 52 respectively. Pump 44a delivers pressurized fluid tohydraulic cylinders 43 for raising and lowering frame 12, while pump 44bprovides pressurized fluid for operating hydraulic cylinders 45, andhydraulic cylinder 54 for raising and lowering tail section 31. Left andright drive motors 50 and 52 are separately controllable by the operatorfor steering and for driving left and right drive wheels 14 and 16respectively through an appropriate drive assembly of a suitable designas could be readily determined by one skilled in the art.

In the preferred embodiment, a planetary gear assembly, Model No. W-2 asmanufactured by Fairfield is used on each the left side and right sidedrive wheel and motor assembly. The left side planetary drive assemblydiffers from that of the right side only in that it is rendered freewheeling for reasons described below by operation of an externalT-handle. Apparatus 10 is steerable and driveable forwardly, rearwardly,and sideways as described below by virtue of the fact that each drivewheel is driveable forwardly and rearwardly independently of the otherby appropriate hydraulic controls of standard design and well-known tothose skilled in the art. Each hydraulic pump 40a and 40b deliverspressurized hydraulic fluid to each of drum assembly drive motors 48aand 48b to reversibly drive rotating drum and paddle assembly 22 fromeach end.

In an alternative four-wheel drive embodiment (FIG. 5A), left and rightcastor wheels 18 and 20 are replaced by left and right rear drive wheels15a and 15b and respective hydraulic drive motors 51 and 53.Corresponding controls as described above with reference to thetwo-wheel drive embodiment are provided to allow the operator to controlthe speed and direction of each of the four driven wheels.

While the present invention is not intended to be defined or limited byreference to any specific dimensions, in both prior art apparatus andthe present invention there is an efficiency of operation resulting fromincorporation of a relatively long drum assembly, 17 feet or more forexample. Accordingly, the overall width of the apparatus will be evengreater than the drum length, while the overall length of the frame ofthe apparatus is preferably no greater than 8' 6". The overall width ofthe prior art apparatus prevents them from being driven through standardfence gates between adjacent fields, and requires that they betransported over public roads by truck and trailers designed fortransporting heavy equipment. The present invention overcomes theselimitations and cost disadvantages of the prior art apparatus byproviding an apparatus which may be driven sideways under its own powerthrough standard fence gates or over public roads for short distances,and which may be towed for longer distances over public roads whennecessary. The means of configuring the present invention for so doingwill now be described by reference to FIG. 5 where it can be seen thateach wheel is mounted on a frame assembly 40 which is movable between afirst position for accommodating forward and rearward travel ofapparatus 10 during normal operation, and a second transverse positionfor accommodating towing or sideways travel of the apparatus. Each frameassembly 40 is moved between the first and second positions by adedicated hydraulic cylinder 45, which is controlled by means ofappropriate controls (not shown) from operator's cab 36.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 14, drum assembly 22 is mountedtransversely within chamber 24. Chamber 24 is an open-ended housingconsisting of a top wall 26, left and right side walls 28 and 30, andtail section 31 (FIG. 5). Front opening 25 is partially shrouded asshown in FIG. 1 by front drapes 33a-c. In the preferred embodiment,screened openings 23 are provided in left and right side walls 28 and 30ahead of drum 56 to permit additional air to be drawn into chamber 24during operation. (FIG. 3A). Tail section 31, essentially a rearwardlyextending projection of chamber 24, extends rearwardly from rear opening27. Tail section 31 may be described as a generally planar frame havingrearwardly and inwardly extending side members pivotally attached toframe 12 at one end, and to lateral member at their outer ends. Drapes39 are hung from each side member and the lateral member as best seen inFIG. 2. The drapes may be made from any suitable material.

In the present embodiment, they are fabricated from grade 2 SBR in theform of 1/2" thick conveyor belt material. Tail section 31 is pivotableby hydraulic cylinder 54 between a lowered operational position and araised stowed position for use during transport of the apparatus. Reardrapes 35 are hung from each side and the rear of tail section 31 andfrom angled frame members defining rear opening 27 as shown. Chamber 24serves to contain direct the air streams and contaminated materialduring operation of apparatus 10, and to reform the contaminatedmaterial into a windrow after mixing and aerating as more fullydescribed below.

Drum assembly 22 is journaled at opposite ends in left and rightsubframes 12a and 12b. Hydraulic motors 48a and 48b are mounted on leftand right subframes 12a and 12b, and reversibly drive drum assembly 22by means of shafts 49a and 49b when supplied with pressurized hydraulicfluid from hydraulic pumps 40a and 40b as described above.

Alternatively, motors 48a and 49b are each mounted on a torque plate 120(FIGS. 19, 20), which has notched corners as best seen in FIG. 19.Torque plate is fitted into a corresponding opening 121 in frame 12.Rubber plates 122 are fitted into the notched corners between the torqueplate and frame 12 to provide cushioning. As the motor is activated,torque plate 120 rotates in response to the reaction torque generatedthereby. In addition, this mounting arrangement accommodates a certainamount of radial and axial movement of the drum relative to the frame.

Drum assembly 22 includes drum 56, a hollow cylinder having closed ends,onto which are welded shafts 57a and 57b (not shown). Shafts 57a and 57bare journaled into frame 12, and drivably connected with drum assemblydrive motors 48 as described above. Each of shafts 57a and 57b arejournaled into its respective subframe by means of a four boltflange-type tapered roller bearing 91 such as Model FB 900 manufacturedby Browning Company. Each bearing 91 is fitted into a corresponding holein left and right subframes 12a and 12b. A split ring collar 92 isfitted into circumferential recesses 96 on each of shafts 57a and 57b,and bears against the protruding rotating race 94 of the tapered rollerbearing to counteract spreading forces exerted on subframes 12a and 12b.Drum 56 thereby functions as a tension member in frame 12 counteractingspreading forces represented in FIG. 7A by force arrows 102a and 102b.This novel use of drum 56 as a tension member saves the weight ofadditional structural members which would otherwise be required tocounteract spreading forces on subframes 12a and 12b, and allows a loweroverall height which further accommodates towing the apparatus 10 onpublic highways.

Turning now to FIGS. 8-12, a plurality of left and right paddles 58 and60 respectively, and center paddles 62 are mounted on the outercylindrical surface of drum 56 as shown. In one embodiment, the paddlesare arranged in four evenly spaced helical rows along the length of thedrum, each row traversing 90° about the drum from one end to the other.In a second embodiment shown in FIG. 9A, the paddles are arranged infour "V-shaped" rows. The V-shaped rows of paddles serve to eliminatetransverse steering torque on the apparatus which may be experiencedwith the use of helical rows where one end of the paddle row engages thecontaminated material prior to the other. The V-shaped rows are orientedso that the paddles at each end of a row engage the contaminatedmaterial simultaneously, eliminating any steering effect resulting frompaddles on one end of the drum engaging the contaminated material beforethe other.

Additionally, the paddles of each V-shaped row are offset from those ofadjacent rows to minimize bypassing of contaminated material past thedrum. In one embodiment, the paddles in each row are spaced at 12"intervals. The corresponding paddles of adjacent rows are offset 3" fromone another. Offsetting of the paddles in this manner promotes completemixing and aeration since the contaminated material at every point alongthe entire length of drum 56 is directly in the path of at least onepaddle.

It should be readily understood that more or less rows of paddles anddifferent arrangements of paddles may be used. It is preferred howeverthat left and right paddles 58 and 60 are mounted generally to the leftand right of the center point of the drum respectively, while centerpaddles 62 are mounted along a central portion of the drum. Centerpaddles 62 may also be interspersed with the left and right paddlesalong transition portions of the drum as shown in FIG. 9. Minorvariations in the number and arrangement of center paddles interspersedwith left and right paddles are possible in accordance to the presentinvention.

Each paddle has a base section 64 by which it is pivotally attached tobracket 66, which in turn is welded to drum 56 as shown in detail inFIG. 13. Each paddle is additionally secured in position by a shear pin68 inserted into hole 70. Shear pin 68 serves to release the paddle topivot rearwardly if impacted by a solid object during rotation of drumassembly 22. A deflector plate 71 is attached at a rearward angle to aforward edge of bracket 66. Each paddle includes a cutting edge 72formed on the leading edge of paddle body 74. Extending transverselyfrom the trailing edge of left and right paddles 58 and 60 is a singlepaddle portion 76 extending inwardly toward the longitudinal center ofdrum 56. Center paddles 62 each have a pair of opposed paddle portions78 extending outwardly toward opposite ends of drum 56. The paddleportions are preferably disposed at an angle slightly less thanperpendicular relative to the paddle body. In a second embodiment (FIGS.17, 18), one or more of the paddles include first and second slots 110,111 in place of bolt holes. Slots 110 and 111 are preferably orientedperpendicular to one another, although other orientations are possible.The mounting assembly for paddle 56 includes bracket 112, plate 114 andnut and bolt assemblies 116 and 118. Bracket 112 is welded onto drum 56.Plate 114 is bolted to bracket 112 by bolts 116. Paddle 56 is mounted bysliding slot 110 onto bolt 116, sliding slot 112 onto bolt 118, thentightening bolts 116 and 118 to clamp paddle 56 into the assembly. Useof this mounting assembly permits paddles 56 to be quickly and easilyreplaced by merely loosening bolts 116 and 118, then tipping the paddleforward and sliding it out of the bracket assembly. A new paddle is thenfitted in reverse order.

Each paddle portion 76 serves to generate an air stream directedupwardly of the drum and in the direction of the free end of the paddlewhen the drum is rotated in a direction such that the paddle travelsupwardly and then rearwardly in its circular path around the drum.Stated slightly differently, the normal direction of rotation of thedrum assembly is in the opposite direction of wheel rotation when theapparatus is being driven forward.

Having described the construction of the preferred embodiment, itsoperation will now be explained. The primary function of apparatus 10 isto shred, mix and aerate solid contaminated material. While a wide rangeof materials can be accommodated, the preferred embodiment isparticularly suited to the contaminated of relatively light agriculturalwastes such as straw and grass.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 6, to configure the apparatus for beingdriven sideways, each hydraulic cylinder 43 is activated to lower frame12 onto the ground and to raise each wheel several inches above theground. Tail section 31 is retracted to its raised stowed position byhydraulic cylinder 54. Each frame assembly 40 is pivoted to itstransverse position as shown in FIG. 6; left and right drive wheels 14and 16 are thereby aligned transversely, as are left and right rearcaster wheels. Left drive wheel 14 is then drivably disengaged from leftdrive motor 50 by pushing T-handle 78 inward to disengage the planetarygear drive as discussed above. Each hydraulic cylinder 43 is thenactivated to lower each wheel and raise frame 12 above the ground.

Apparatus 10 is now configured for being driven sideways. It ispropelled in this configuration by right drive wheel 16, now facing inthe direction of "forward travel", which by virtue of being fitted withflexible hydraulic supply and return lines is operable in the transverseposition. Steering is accomplished by operation of hydraulic cylinder 45to "swing" right drive wheel 16 slightly as required to adjust thedirection of travel. After arriving at the desired location, theapparatus 10 is reconfigured to its contaminated mode by reversing theforegoing procedure.

If it is necessary to transport the apparatus a greater distance, othertransporting configurations are provided which allow the apparatus to beflat-towed by a truck. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, each wheel is raisedabove the ground, pivoted to its transverse position, and the wheelslowered, raising frame 12 above the ground. Left drive wheel 14 isdrivably disengaged as before, and left rear castor is locked againstcastoring action by pin assembly 19. As best seen in FIG.7, a pair ofauxiliary towing wheel assemblies 80a and 80b are then mounted on theright side of frame 12 by being inserted into channels 82a and 82b, andyokes 84a and 84b respectively, and secured therein by locking pins 86.Auxiliary towing wheel assemblies 80a and 80b are additionally securedby lateral link 86 which is pinned into bracket 88 and frame 12 asshown. Right side drive wheel 16 and right rear castor 20 are thenraised to lower the right side of frame 12 onto towing wheel assemblies80a and 80b.

As shown in FIG. 2, fifth-wheel assembly 90 is an articulated, hingedframe assembly which is normally stored in a retracted position, andwhich is extended and locked into position as shown in FIG. 7 for beinghooked to a truck (not shown) for towing apparatus 10. Fifth-wheelassembly 90 may be raised and lowered by any suitable winch assembly 92(FIG. 6). An alternative fifth-wheel design is shown in FIG. 7A whererather than a separate towing wheel assemblies, an integral rear towingwheel assembly 81 is provided which can be raised into and lowered fromits retracted position (FIG. 7A) by operation of hydraulic cylinder 83without being detached from frame 12. Apparatus 10 thus configured maybe conveniently towed over public roads with considerably lessexpenditure of time, effort and expense when compared to prior artapparatus. Towing the apparatus is further accommodated by the novelframe design of the present invention as shown in the figures. Drum 56serves as a tension member interconnecting vertical subframes 12a and12b as discussed above. The use of drum 56 as a tension member in frame12 eliminates the need for additional structural members to resistspreading forces exerted on subframes 12a and 12b during operation andtowing. Frame 12 can therefore be designed with a lower overall heightto accommodate passage beneath lower bridges and overpasses. Uponarriving at its destination, towing wheel assemblies 80a and 80b areremoved and apparatus is reconfigured for operation by reversing theabove procedure. In the alternative embodiment, wheel assembly 81 isretracted by operation of hydraulic cylinder 83.

Prior art apparatus have proven generally unsatisfactory for processingsuch contaminated material due to their inability to effect adequateaeration of the materials to ensure aerobic conditions throughout thematerial, and due to their inability to effect adequate removal ofexcess moisture from the material when required. To this end, thepresent invention provides a novel drum and paddle assembly 22 which isrotated at high speed in a direction opposite to that of prior artapparatus. In addition to directly impacting the contaminated materialfor shredding it, the rotating drum assembly 22 also draws air fromahead of the apparatus into chamber 24 and generates a high-speed streamof air in chamber 24. The high speed air stream entrains the relativelylight materials and circulates them in overlapping, counter-rotatingcircular patterns within chamber 24 for thoroughly aerating and mixingthem. The entrained materials are suspended and circulated in the airstreams, and then redeposited in a windrow to the rear of the rotatingdrum. As a further advantage, after mixing and aerating the contaminatedmaterials as described, the present invention redeposits the materialsin a relatively tall, more squared-off windrow having a higher volume ofmaterials per unit of surface area than known apparatus.

To begin a contaminated operation, engine 38 is started, and drum drivemotors 48a and 48b are engaged to counter-rotate drum assembly 22,preferably at approximately 550 RPMs. apparatus 10 is now raised orlowered to a desired ground clearance by activation of hydrauliccylinders 43. By so doing, apparatus 10 can be adjusted to process moreor less material. This unique ability of the present invention allowsfor a more efficient operation by permitting greater volumes of materialto be formed into a single windrow and processed in a single pass,resulting in more efficient use of the available ground area, and lessprocessing time for a given amount of material. The height adjustingability is additionally useful in that as the process partiallydecomposes the windrow of material, the volume of material decreases.The present invention allows the operator to readily adjust for thevolume decrease without any decrease in the effectiveness of mixing andaeration.

Having selected the appropriate height, the operator now drivesapparatus 10 forward to engage the contaminated material. As theapparatus engages and proceeds along the windrow, the contaminatedmaterial is mixed and aerated by the action of the counter-rotating drumassembly. We define counter-rotation to mean rotation in acounterclockwise direction when viewed from the right end of the drumassembly, or stated slightly differently, in the opposite direction ofrotation of forward rolling drive wheels 14 and 16. Counter-rotatingdrum assembly draws air into chamber 24 from ahead of the apparatus inthe form of an upwardly and rearwardly directed air stream ahead of thedrum assembly, providing significant advantages as will be furtherexplained. As apparatus 10 approaches, the upwardly flowing air streamfirst engages the windrow ahead of the drum assembly and entrains aportion of the material which travels in the air stream and which doesnot directly engage the counter-rotating drum assembly. Counter-rotatingdrum assembly 22 then engages the remaining material which is deflectedby deflector plate 71 toward cutting edge 72, where the material isshredded, and then entrained in the air stream. While the preciseamounts of material shredded in each pass of the apparatus are not knownwith certainty, in the processing of grass straw, for example, 3-4passes through the contaminated material will normally produce athoroughly shredded contaminated material.

Under certain operating conditions, particularly when processing heaviermaterials, drum 30 can be slowed and even stalled. Owing to thehydraulic coupling between the drum and engine, stalling of the drum canstall the engine as well. In the preferred embodiment, this problem isaddressed by monitoring the engine speed to detect slowing of the drum,and reducing power to the drive wheels when slowing of the drum isdetected. Reducing power to the drive wheels slows the forward progressof the apparatus through the windrow, thereby reducing the load on thedrum and allowing it to resume its normal operating speed. In thepreferred embodiment, the power to the drive wheels is first reduced byto 50% or normal, and if after no more than a few seconds the drum hasnot resumed its normal operating speed, further reducing power to thedrive wheels to 30% of normal. Once the drum has resumed normaloperating speed, the power to the drive wheels is increased to itsnormal level. In order to avoid lurching and resultant damage to thedrive mechanism, applicants have found that the power to the drivewheels must be resumed gradually rather than all at once.

Reducing and increasing the power to the drive wheels in response tochanges in the drum speed is achieved by means of electrical control ofthe hydraulic pumps which provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to theleft and right drive wheel hydraulic motors 42a and 42b respectively. Aschematic diagram of the control system is shown in FIG. 16. A manuallyoperated speed controller is provided for each of the two drive wheels.During normal operation, speed controllers 104a and 104b electricallycontrol the output of hydraulic pumps 40a and 40b responsive to movementof the speed controllers by the operator. When drum 30 (not shown inFIG. 16) slows, a corresponding slowing of alternator 102 triggers asignal to controller 100, a Sundstrand Model MCH22BL1844. In response,controller 100 reduces the voltage applied to speed controllers 104a and104b by 50%, which reduces the power to left and right drive wheelhydraulic motors 50a and 50b respectively by a corresponding amount. Ifwithin two seconds drum 30 has not resumed its normal operating speed,controller 100 further reduces the voltage to speed controllers 104a and104b to 30% of normal. Typically, reduction of power to the drive wheelsto 30% of normal has been sufficient to overcome all but the most severestalling conditions.

Once drum 30 has resumed its normal operating speed, controller 100restores normal voltage to speed controllers 104a and 104b and normaloperation is resumed. Generally, the control system as described is soresponsive that it is necessary to resume normal power to the drivewheels gradually in order to avoid lurching of the apparatus and damageto the drive train. To that end, once the drum has resumed normaloperating speed controller 100 increases the voltage to speedcontrollers 104a and 104b gradually over several seconds.

The entrained contaminated material is propelled upwardly and rearwardlyin a pair of generally rotating vortex-like airstreams. The end paddlesgenerate air currents directed upwardly of the drum and transverselytoward the center portion of the drum, while the center paddles generatean air current directed upwardly and rearwardly of, and transverselytoward the ends of the drum when the drum is rotated. The air currentsgenerated by the end and center paddles intersect and combine to formthe vortex-like, compost entraining air stream for mixing and aeratingthe windrow of contaminated material.

The airstreams overlap at their inner portions, providing repeatedexchange of entrained material therebetween. As the air streams begin tolose their velocity, the contaminated material begins to drop out of theair stream and is redeposited into a windrow.

The airstreams are generated according to the preferred embodiment bythe left, right and center paddles previously described. As best seen inFIG. 9 and 14, each row of paddles according to the present inventionincludes a group of paddles having paddle portions 76 facing towardopposite ends of the drum. As the drum is rotated, each paddle portion76 draws air into chamber 24 and generates a series of airstreamsflowing in the direction of the drum rotation and laterally outwardlytoward the end of the drum. The series of airstreams generated by thetwo group of similarly oriented paddle portions 76 combine to formoppositely rotating airstreams spiralling rearwardly within chamber 24and intersect. The interspersing of paddles having opposite facingpaddle portions 76 near the center of the drum creates a region in whichthe oppositely rotating airstreams overlap. In the overlapping region,contaminated material is continuously exchanged between the airstreams,providing more thorough mixing of the contaminated materials than hasheretofore been possible. The relatively light materials remainentrained in the airstreams for a relatively long time, until the airstream slows sufficiently to cause the material to fall from theairstream. In this way, the contaminated material is afforded anextended contact time for aeration and drying. As the airstreams spiralrearward, they exit chamber 24 through rear opening 27 and rear tailportion 31. Rear drapes 35 serve to limit the rearward travel of theairstreams and any entrained or thrown contaminated materials.Applicants have discovered that the mixing and aerating effectiveness ofthe present invention is significantly enhanced by the use of tailsection 31, which apparently serves to promote the formation andrearward extension of the rotating airstreams, extending the contacttime between the air and contaminated materials. The ability of thepresent invention to provide extended, interstitial aeration ofrelatively light contaminated materials has not been possible with priorart apparatus, and represents a significant advance in the art.

A further benefit of the present invention over prior art apparatus isrelated to the large volume of fresh air which is continually drawn intochamber 24 and into intimate contact with the contaminated material.This feature is also of significant benefit when contaminated heaviermaterials which may not be readily entrained in the airstream, and whichare mixed primarily by being thrown upwardly and rearwardly due tocontact with paddle portions 76. Even so, with the large amount of airdrawn into chamber 24 in the form of high-speed air streams, theseheavier materials are contacted with significantly more air under moreeffective aerating conditions than is possible with known apparatus.

Having illustrated and described the principles of my invention in apreferred embodiment thereof, it should be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art that the invention can be modified in arrangement anddetail without departing from such principles. I claim all modificationscoming within the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.

We claim:
 1. A method of using an apparatus in the acceleratedremediation or bioremediation of a contaminated material which comprisesthe steps of(a) generating an air stream from said apparatus at avelocity sufficient for entraining the contaminated material therein;(b) entraining the contaminated material in said air stream; (c)microenfractionating the contaminated material with said apparatus toform a microenfractionated contaminated material; and (d) treating saidmicroenfractionated contaminated material with at least one chemicalamendment and/or one biological amendment by discharging said chemicalamendment and/or one biological amendment from said apparatus therebyfacilitating said accelerated remediation or bioremediation.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the chemical amendment comprises an achemical oxidizing agent.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the chemicalamendment comprises a chelating agent.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid contaminated material is treated in step (d) by discharging achemical amendment and/or one biological amendment from said apparatus.5. The method of claim 2, wherein the chemical oxidizing agent comprisesmolecular oxygen, a peroxide, a permanganate, a nitrate, a nitrite, aperoxydisulfate, a perchlorate, a sulfate, chlorate, a hypochlorite, aniodate, a trioxide, a peroxybenzoic acid, an oxide, an iodic acid, anitric acid, a periodic acid, a peracetic acid, a hydantoin, atriazinetrione, a hydroxide, a percarbonate, a superoxide, anisocyanate, an isocyanic acid, a bromanate, a biiodate, a bromate, abromate-bromide, a molybdic acid, a dichromate, a chromate, a periodate,a chlorite, an iodate, or a perborate.
 6. The method of claim 1, whichfurther includes the of step discharging said chemical amendment and/orbiological amendment into the microenfractionated contaminated materialentrained in said air stream.
 7. The method of claim 1, which furtherincludes the step of combining a chemical reaction activator with thechemical amendment prior to treating said microenfractionatedcontaminated material.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said chemicalreaction activator comprises a transition metal compound and/orhemoglobin and/or a portion of the hemoglobin molecule.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said chemical amendment is a liquid.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the contaminated material comprises a material selectedfrom the group consisting of a polycyclic and chlorinated polycyclic, anaromatic and chloroaromatic compound, a heterocyclic and chlorinatedheterocyclic compound, and an aliphatic and a chloroaliphatic compound.11. The method of claim 1, wherein the contaminated material is selectedfrom the group consisting of phenol, cresol, pentachlorophenol,phenanthrene and naphthalene.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein theaccelerated remediation or bioremediation reaction is conductedaerobically, adiabatically, or methanogenically.
 13. The method of claim1, wherein the accelerated remediation or bioremediation reaction isconducted by an in situ abiotic process.
 14. The method of claim 1,wherein said apparatus includes means for generating a treatedcontaminated material entraining air stream which comprises an elongatedrum having a longitudinal axis, first and second end portions, and acenter portion, the drum being rotatable about its longitudinal axis ata rotational speed, and means extending outwardly from the periphery ofsaid drum for microenfractionating the contaminated material.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the contaminated material entraining airstream comprises a plurality of air currents, and wherein the meansextending outwardly from the periphery of said drum formicroenfractionating the contaminated material comprises a plurality ofpaddles extending outwardly from a cylindrical outer surface of thedrum.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein said paddle comprises:a bodyhaving a first planar portion having a leading edge and a second planarportion connected at a first angle to the first paddle portion, thesecond planar portion being oriented so as to generate a firstmaterial-entraining air stream when the drum is rotated; and a baseportion connected to the body for mounting the paddle onto a rotatabledrum.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said paddle comprises a thirdplanar portion connected at a second angle to the first paddle portion,the third planar portion adapted to generate a secondmaterial-entraining air stream when the rotatable drum is rotated. 18.The method of claim 16 wherein the base portion includes a first holefor receiving a first paddle attachment bolt and a second hole forreceiving a second paddle attachment bolt.
 19. The method of claim 16wherein the base portion includes surfaces defining first and secondbolts.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein the first hole is a slot whichis horizontal and said second hole is a slot which is vertical.
 21. Themethod of claim 20 wherein the first and second slots are disposed at anangle relative to each other.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein theangle between the first and second slots is about 90 degrees.
 23. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the treated contaminated material entrainingair stream comprises a plurality of intersecting air currents, each ofthe intersecting air currents having a sufficient velocity forentraining and transporting a portion of the contaminated material. 24.The method of claim 1, wherein the contaminated material entraining airstream comprises a vortex-type air stream which transports the entrainedcontaminated material in a generally circular path.
 25. The method ofclaim 1, wherein at least about 70% of the total amount of contaminatedmaterial is remediated or bioremediated within 120 days of treating thetreated contaminated material with the chemical and/or biologicalamendments.
 26. The method of claim 1, wherein the method furthercomprises homogenizing and aerating the contaminated material andwherein the step of microenfractionating the contaminatednon-microenfractionated material increase the surface area of saidcontaminated non-microenfractionated material, by a factor of at leastabout 1×10⁶.
 27. The method of claim 1, which further includes the stepof discharging the microenfractionated treated contaminated materialfrom the air stream and redistributing it throughout a soil matrixthereby substantially increasing the surface area of the soil matrix.28. The method of claim 1, wherein the chemical amendment comprises anaqueous solution.
 29. The method of claim 1, wherein the contaminatedmaterial comprises contaminated soil, the contaminated soil comprisingat least about 50% weight of clay.
 30. A method for the acceleratedremediation or bioremediation of contaminated material, whichcomprises:a) providing said contaminated material; b) providing anapparatus for microenfractionating the contaminated material; c)generating an air stream at a velocity sufficient for entraining thecontaminated material therein; d) entraining the contaminated materialin the air stream; e) microenfractionating the contaminated material toform a microenfractionated contaminated material; and f) treating saidmicroenfractionated contaminated material with at least one chemicalamendment and/or one biological amendment by discharging said chemicalamendment and/or one biological amendment from said apparatus therebyfacilitating said accelerated remediation or bioremediation.
 31. Themethod of claim 30, wherein the chemical amendment comprises a chemicaloxidizing agent.
 32. The method of claim 30, wherein the chemicalamendment comprises a chelating agent.
 33. The method of claim 30,wherein said contaminated material is treated in step (d) by discharginga chemical amendment and/or one biological amendment from saidapparatus.
 34. The method of claim 30, wherein the chemical amendmentcomprises molecular oxygen, a peroxide, a permanganate, a nitrate, anitrite, a peroxydisulfate, a perchlorate, a sulfate, chlorate, ahypochlorite, an iodate, a trioxide, a peroxybenzoic acid, an oxide, aniodic acid, a nitric acid, a periodic acid, a peracetic acid, ahydantoin, a triazinetrione, a hydroxide, a percarbonate, a superoxide,an isocyanate, an isocyanic acid, a bromanate, a biiodate, a bromate, abromatebromide, a molybdic acid, a dichromate, a chromate, a periodate,a chlorite, an iodate, or a perborate.
 35. The method of claim 30, whichfurther includes the step of discharging said chemical amendment and/orbiological amendment into the microenfractionated contaminated materialentrained in said air stream.
 36. The method of claim 30, which furtherincludes the step of combining a chemical reaction activator with thechemical amendment prior to treating said microenfractionatedcontaminated material.
 37. The method of claim 30, wherein said chemicalamendment is a liquid.
 38. The method of claim 30, wherein thecontaminated material is selected from a group consisting of apolycyclic and chlorinated polycyclic, an aromatic and chloroaromaticcompound, a heterocyclic and chlorinated heterocyclic compound, and analiphatic and a chloroaliphatic compound.
 39. The method of claim 30,wherein the contaminated material is selected from a group consisting ofphenol, cresol, pentachlorophenol, phenanthrene and naphthalene.
 40. Themethod of claim 30, wherein the accelerated remediation orbioremediation reaction is conducted aerobically, adiabatically, ormethanogenically.
 41. The method of claim 30, wherein the acceleratedremediation or bioremediation reaction is conducted by an in situabiotic process.
 42. The method of claim 30, wherein at least about 70%of a total amount of contaminated material is remediated within 120 daysof treating the treated contaminated material with the chemical and/orbiological amendments.
 43. The method of claim 30, wherein the methodfurther comprises homogenizing and aerating the contaminated materialand wherein the step of microenfractionating the contaminatednon-microenfractionated material increase the surface area of saidcontaminated non-microenfractionated material, by a factor of at leastabout 1×10⁶.
 44. The method of claim 30, which further includes the stepof discharging the microenfractionated treated contaminated materialfrom the air stream and redistributing it throughout a soil matrixthereby substantially increasing the surface area of the soil matrix.45. The method of claim 30, wherein the chemical amendment comprises anaqueous solution.
 46. A method of accelerated chemical and/or biologicalremediation of contaminated material, which comprises:a) providing saidcontaminated material; b) generating an air stream at a velocitysufficient for entraining the contaminated material therein; c)entraining the contaminated material in the air stream; d)microenfractionating the contaminated material; e) discharging from anapparatus into said entrained air stream at least one chemical amendmentand/or one biological amendment; and f) treating saidmicroenfractionated contaminated material in said entrained air streamwith said chemical and/or biological amendment thereby facilitatingsubsequent accelerated remediation or bioremediation under conditionssufficient for conducting said accelerated remediation orbioremediation.
 47. The method of claim 46, wherein the chemicalamendment comprises an a chemical oxidizing agent.
 48. The method ofclaim 46, wherein the chemical amendment comprises a chelating agent.49. The method of claim 46, wherein said contaminated material istreated in step (f) by discharging a chemical amendment and/or onebiological amendment from said apparatus.
 50. The method of claim 46,wherein the chemical amendment comprises molecular oxygen, a peroxide, apermanganate, a nitrate, a nitrite, a peroxydisulfate, a perchlorate, asulfate, chlorate, a hypochlorite, an iodate, a trioxide, aperoxybenzoic acid, an oxide, an iodic acid, a nitric acid, a periodicacid, a peracetic acid, a hydantoin, a triazinetrione, a hydroxide, apercarbonate, a superoxide, an isocyanate, an isocyanic acid, abromanate, a biiodate, a bromate, a bromatebromide, a molybdic acid, adichromate, a chromate, a periodate, a chlorite, an iodate, or aperborate.
 51. The method of claim 46, which further includes the stepof combining a chemical reaction activator with the chemical amendmentprior to treating said microenfractionated contaminated material. 52.The method of claim 51, wherein said chemical reaction activatorcomprises a transition metal compound and/or hemoglobin or a portion ofthe hemoglobin molecule.
 53. The method of claim 46, wherein saidchemical amendment is a liquid.
 54. The method of claim 46, wherein thecontaminated material comprises a material selected from a groupconsisting of a polycyclic and chlorinated polycyclic, an aromatic andchloroaromatic compound, a heterocyclic and chlorinated heterocycliccompound, and an aliphatic and a chloroaliphatic compound.
 55. Themethod of claim 46, wherein the contaminated material is selected from agroup consisting of phenol, cresol, pentachlorophenol, phenanthrene andnaphthalene.
 56. The method of claim 46, wherein the acceleratedremediation or bioremediation reaction is conducted aerobically,adiabatically, or methanogenically.
 57. The method of claim 46, whereinthe accelerated remediation or bioremediation reaction is conducted byan in situ abiotic process.
 58. The method of claim 46, wherein saidapparatus includes means for generating a treated contaminated materialentraining air stream which comprises an elongate drum having alongitudinal axis, first and second end portions, and a center portion,the drum being rotatable about its longitudinal axis at a rotationalspeed, and means extending outwardly from the periphery of said drum formicroenfractionating the contaminated material.
 59. The method of claim58, wherein the entraining air stream comprises a plurality of aircurrents, and wherein the means extending outwardly from the peripheryof said drum for microenfractionating the contaminated materialcomprises a plurality of paddles extending outwardly from a cylindricalouter surface of the drum.
 60. The method of claim 59, wherein saidpaddle comprises:a body having a first planar portion having a leadingedge and a second planar portion connected at a first angle to the firstpaddle portion, the second planar portion being oriented so as togenerate a first material-entraining air stream when the drum isrotated; and a base portion connected to the body for mounting thepaddle onto a rotatable drum.
 61. The method of claim 60, wherein saidpaddle comprises a third planar portion connected at a second angle tothe first paddle portion, the third planar portion adapted to generate asecond material-entraining air stream when the rotatable drum isrotated.
 62. The method of claim 60, wherein the base portion includes afirst hole for receiving a first paddle attachment bolt and a secondhole for receiving a second paddle attachment bolt.
 63. The method ofclaim 60, wherein the base portion includes surfaces defining first andsecond bolts.
 64. The method of claim 62, wherein the first hole is ahorizontal slot and the second hole is a vertical slot.
 65. The methodof claim 64, wherein the first and second slots are disposed at an anglerelative to each other.
 66. The method of claim 65, wherein the anglebetween the first and second slots is about 90 degrees.
 67. The methodof claim 46, wherein the treated contaminated material entraining airstream comprises a plurality of intersecting air currents, each of theintersecting air currents having a sufficient velocity for entrainingand transporting a portion of the contaminated material upwardly of theapparatus.
 68. The method of claim 46, wherein the contaminated materialentraining air stream comprises a vortex-type air stream whichtransports the entrained contaminated material in a generally circularpath.
 69. The method of claim 46, wherein at least about 70% of thetotal amount of contaminated material is remediated or bioremediatedwithin 120 days of treating the treated contaminated material with thechemical and/or biological amendments.
 70. The method of claim 46,wherein the method further comprises homogenizing and aerating thecontaminated material and wherein the step of microenfractionating thecontaminated non-microenfractionated material increase the surface areaof said contaminated non-microenfractionated material, by a factor of atleast about 1×10⁶.
 71. The method of claim 46, which further includesthe step of discharging the microenfractionated treated contaminatedmaterial from the air stream and redistributing it throughout a soilmatrix thereby substantially increasing the surface area of the soilmatrix.
 72. The method of claim 46, wherein the chemical amendmentcomprises an aqueous solution.
 73. The method of claim 46, wherein thecontaminated material comprises contaminated soil, the contaminated soilcomprising at least about 50% weight